Unvaccinated people 11 times more likely to die in COVID-19 delta surge

The unvaccinated were six times more likely to get the virus in August.

ByEmily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, and Marlene Lenthang
Last Updated: October 18, 2021, 1:16 AM EDT

The United States has been facing a COVID-19 surge as the more contagious delta variant continues to spread.

More than 722,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.8 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Just 66.5% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the CDC.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 15, 2021, 9:26 PM EDT

Undefeated Cardinals to be without head coach for Browns game

Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury will miss Sunday's road game against the Cleveland Browns after he tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Friday night.

Kingsbury, 42, has led the hottest team in the NFL this season. Arizona (5-0) is the only undefeated team left in the league.

Sunday's game figures to be one of the biggest of the week, with the 3-2 Browns suffering only two narrow losses coming off a playoff appearance last year and expectations to contend for a title.

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury of the Arizona Cardinals on the sidelines in the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 3, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif.
Harry How/Getty Images, FILE

The Cardinals will also be without quarterbacks coach Cam Turner and defensive lineman Zach Allen, who each tested positive Friday. Star outside linebacker Chandler Jones was put on the COVID list earlier this week and won't play.

Kingsbury told reporters exactly three weeks ago that 100% of the Cardinals' roster was vaccinated.

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers will split head coaching duties against Cleveland.

Oct 15, 2021, 3:46 PM EDT

CDC updates holiday guidance

The CDC has updated its holiday guidance, urging people to get vaccinated and to wear masks in public indoor places.

The CDC said in a statement: "We fully expect that families and friends will gather for the holidays this year and we have updated our guidance on how to best to stay safe over the holidays. The best way to minimize COVID risk and ensure that people can safely gather is to get vaccinated or get the booster if you’re eligible.”

-ABC News' Anne Flaherty

Oct 15, 2021, 1:52 PM EDT

FDA panel votes to authorize booster shots for J&J vaccine

An independent FDA panel has voted to move forward with Johnson & Johnson vaccine boosters.

PHOTO: Dr. Maureen Mays volunteers her time to give J&J COVID-19 vaccines during a "A shot for a shot" event offering a free cocktail or beer to get a J&J COVID-19 vaccine at Kelly's Olympian, a landmark bar, in Portland on June 3, 2021.
Dr. Maureen Mays, a cardiovascular disease specialist, volunteers her time to give J&J COVID-19 vaccines during a "A shot for a shot" event offering a free cocktail or beer to get a J&J COVID-19 vaccine hosted by Ben Stutz, the owner of Kelly's Olympian, a landmark bar, in Portland on June 3, 2021.
John Rudoff/Sipa USA via AP

The panel’s decision on J&J was broader than for Moderna and Pfizer as it applies to all J&J recipients 18 and older. The timing is also different: The J&J booster can be administered two months after the initial shot.

The 19-person panel voted unanimously.

Johnson & Johnson's one dose has shown to be 85% effective against severe illness, but adding a second dose boosted that to 100%.

Penny Heaton, a J&J executive, acknowledged Friday that J&J’s efficacy is below the mRNA vaccines but said they would be on par if they used a booster.

-ABC News' Anne Flaherty, Cheyenne Haslett, Sasha Pezenik

Oct 15, 2021, 11:17 AM EDT

Cases creeping up in some Midwest, Northeast states

In recent weeks, cases have been creeping up in several states in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Colorado, New Hampshire, Vermont, Montana, Michigan and Minnesota have seen their case rates jump by 20% or more in the last month, according to federal data.

Alaska currently has the country's highest infection rate, followed by Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, Idaho and West Virginia, according to federal data. California currently has the nation's lowest infection rate.

Since the beginning of September, the U.S. has seen a drop of more than 42,000 COVID-19 patients in hospitals. Daily COVID-19-related hospital admissions are also down by 8.8% in the last week, and by more than 40% in the last month, according to federal data.

West Virginia currently has the country's highest death rate, followed by Idaho and Georgia. Texas alone is reporting thousands of deaths each week.

-ABC News' Arielle Mitropoulos